School can expel lesbian students, court rules

[Natasha]

School can expel lesbian students, court rules

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-school28-2009jan28,0,4594347.story
Maura Dolan
1/28/09

Reporting from San Francisco -- After a Lutheran school expelled two 16-year-old girls for having "a bond of intimacy" that was "characteristic of a lesbian relationship," the girls sued, contending the school had violated a state anti-discrimination law.

In response to that suit, an appeals court decided this week that the private religious school was not a business and therefore did not have to comply with a state law that prohibits businesses from discriminating. A lawyer for the girls said Tuesday that he would ask the California Supreme Court to overturn the unanimous ruling by a three-judge panel of the 4th District Court of Appeal.

[Stealthgrrl]

Being gay isn't a choice. Being a bigot is.

[Jessie_Heart]

"conducting themselves in a manner consistent with being lesbians,"

what the hell does this mean ? unless they were going down on each other in the hall how can you conduct yourself in a lesbian manner? sometimes I am so glad I am no longer a teenager!

[Shana A]

Being gay isn't a choice. Being a bigot is.

Is bigotry a choice or are bigots born that way? Do they have ex-bigot camps where they can learn to be tolerant, loving humans? 

Z

[Jessie_Heart]

Being gay isn't a choice. Being a bigot is.

Is bigotry a choice or are bigots born that way? Do they have ex-bigot camps where they can learn to be tolerant, loving humans? 

Z

I have several family members I would send to camp! I would have to trick them though (I would tell the men it was a strip club and i would tell the women it was a day spa!)

[deviousxen]

... I keep recalling that the private school I went to was run by dicks...

[tekla]

Really girls.  If you want the church to stay out of public decisions, what they get in exchange is that we leave them alone.  Private schools are just that, private.  They may admit, or not, on their whim alone.  I see no problem with that as long as its a two way street.

[Jessie_Heart]

Really girls.  If you want the church to stay out of public decisions, what they get in exchange is that we leave them alone.  Private schools are just that, private.  They may admit, or not, on their whim alone.  I see no problem with that as long as its a two way street.

the only problem I have is it is never a two way street! Extreme christian idealism and moral is what governs most of the law right now if this were not the case gay marrige would not even be an issue. I was just courious as to what the terminoligy they used was supposed to mean!

[Julie Marie]

the school's purpose was to "teach Christian values in a Christian setting pursuant to a Christian code of conduct."

The girls were expelled in their junior year for "conducting themselves in a manner consistent with being lesbians,"

To the best of my knowledge, Christ established Christian values by the life he lived.  I don't recall ever reading any accounts where Christ dealt with people by ostracizing them, no matter what he thought of their actions.

These people aren't teaching Christian values.  They are teaching prejudice, passing judgment on others, ridding their ranks of "sinners" and basically preaching "We're right and you're wrong."

Julie

[Jessie_Heart]

the school's purpose was to "teach Christian values in a Christian setting pursuant to a Christian code of conduct."

The girls were expelled in their junior year for "conducting themselves in a manner consistent with being lesbians,"

To the best of my knowledge, Christ established Christian values by the life he lived.  I don't recall ever reading any accounts where Christ dealt with people by ostracizing them, no matter what he thought of their actions.

These people aren't teaching Christian values.  They are teaching prejudice, passing judgment on others, ridding their ranks of "sinners" and basically preaching "We're right and you're wrong."

Julie

I love you Julie (toatally platonic I wouldn't want to be accussed of "conducting myself as a lesbian" even though I am married to another woman) I had a person from a church come to my house in AZ. asking if I would want to attend. I asked him if he agreed with stores choosing to put X-Mas up instead of christmas he said he didn't go to any stores that did that (I had a hard time believing this) and I told him that it was the same with me and church that I didn't want to be involved with the mases that had removed christ from christianity he left and never returned!

[tekla]

But it is their right to be wrong, just as it is ours in their eyes.  The only way this works is to each their own.

[Jessie_Heart]

But it is their right to be wrong, just as it is ours in their eyes.  The only way this works is to each their own.

and just as they have a right to voice how wrong we are amongst themselves we have a right to talk amongst ourselves about how wrong we think they are!

[Stealthgrrl]

LOL, Z and Jessie, you crack me up.

[Jessie_Heart]

LOL, Z and Jessie, you crack me up.

At least I got something done today I feel a sense of acomplishment. time for a coffee break!

[Sheila]

Usually when laws are wrote on sexual orientation and gender identity/expression, they put in exclusions for religious organizations. They are usually private schools and they don't have to follow the laws like public schools. We all know that the religious right people are bigots, they have one who runs around all day in a white gown and a hat that kind of looks like the KKK. Hmmm, I wonder where the KKK got their idea as far as dress goes.

[milliontoone]

Really girls.  If you want the church to stay out of public decisions, what they get in exchange is that we leave them alone.  Private schools are just that, private.  They may admit, or not, on their whim alone.  I see no problem with that as long as its a two way street.

Ahhh but Tekla why should the government which is representative of the people be bartering with the christian church at all?

After all not everyone in America is a Christian so why should they have any say in what should be matters of state.
That's like saying the chief rabbi of the jewish church or the mouthpiece of the muslim religion should be able to influence state or even countrywide legislature.  People wouldn't hear of that so why has christianity suddenly got the loudest voice in the room?

[Chaunte]

Really girls.  If you want the church to stay out of public decisions, what they get in exchange is that we leave them alone.  Private schools are just that, private.  They may admit, or not, on their whim alone.  I see no problem with that as long as its a two way street.

Ahhh but Tekla why should the government which is representative of the people be bartering with the christian church at all?

After all not everyone in America is a Christian so why should they have any say in what should be matters of state.
That's like saying the chief rabbi of the jewish church or the mouthpiece of the muslim religion should be able to influence state or even countrywide legislature.  People wouldn't hear of that so why has christianity suddenly got the loudest voice in the room?

This decision applies to any private school.  This one just happened to be a private school run by a church.  If it receives Federal or State funding, then you have a leg to stand on in terms of bias.  Otherwise, it is their call.

We could open a private school strictly for the LGBT community and kick out anyone who is straight.  And it would be perfectly legit - as long as we do not receive any governmental funding.

[Jessie_Heart]

Really girls.  If you want the church to stay out of public decisions, what they get in exchange is that we leave them alone.  Private schools are just that, private.  They may admit, or not, on their whim alone.  I see no problem with that as long as its a two way street.

Ahhh but Tekla why should the government which is representative of the people be bartering with the christian church at all?

After all not everyone in America is a Christian so why should they have any say in what should be matters of state.
That's like saying the chief rabbi of the jewish church or the mouthpiece of the muslim religion should be able to influence state or even countrywide legislature.  People wouldn't hear of that so why has christianity suddenly got the loudest voice in the room?

This decision applies to any private school.  This one just happened to be a private school run by a church.  If it receives Federal or State funding, then you have a leg to stand on in terms of bias.  Otherwise, it is their call.

We could open a private school strictly for the LGBT community and kick out anyone who is straight.  And it would be perfectly legit - as long as we do not receive any governmental funding.

yes but if we did this could we operate it with out constant harrassment from christianity and if we had that kind of harrassment would the law try to protect our right to run the school and force the harassment to stop or would that be just one more thing that they were able to do just because they are christian?

[Jenny Jackson]

Really girls.  If you want the church to stay out of public decisions, what they get in exchange is that we leave them alone.  Private schools are just that, private.  They may admit, or not, on their whim alone.  I see no problem with that as long as its a two way street.

Ahhh but Tekla why should the government which is representative of the people be bartering with the christian church at all?

After all not everyone in America is a Christian so why should they have any say in what should be matters of state.
That's like saying the chief rabbi of the jewish church or the mouthpiece of the muslim religion should be able to influence state or even countrywide legislature.  People wouldn't hear of that so why has christianity suddenly got the loudest voice in the room?

For a country who's constitution emphasises separation of church and state and the rights of the individual to worship or not as he or she feel fit, it seems to this mere limey that your law makers and judiciary spend a hell of a lot of time kowtowing to religious bigotry. Here, though we still have an established church, we've largely conveyed all that to history and long may that process continue.

[Stealthgrrl]

I am hereby opening Stealth's School For Wayward Girls. We have rules here. Thou shalt not say "thou shalt not" and all that corny antiquated King James lords and ladies crap. (of course there was never much ladies in it, except for obedient servants/wives and harlots. But never mind) No handing out religious tracts. No asking people whether they have a close personal relationship with "the lord." (see rule 1...and anyways HOW close? God-is-my-boyfriend close, like in those christian pop songs sung by female singers? We don't want to know, honey.) You can bring a boy to prom, but you have to sign in at the new Tink Honors English Wing. Just a formality. Chewing gum, wearing clunky boots, goth paraphernalia and reading dark Lesbian poets are all encouraged. However, no little fish emblems allowed on student vehicles. (last week someone's Volvo was attacked by an alley cat because of such an emblem. The paint job was ruined!)

Special note to students who may have been raised by televangelists: Stealth's School For Wayward Girls does not allow solid gold bathroom fixtures, nor is there a Cadillac Escalade issued to each student. Sorry. Please apply no later than January 31st, 2009 for enrollment in the upcoming semester. And yes, you and your roommate can shove the beds together if you want.

Constance Cecilia Snodgrass-Stealth, director